Additional residents have shared their experience of the residential fire that broke out on Tuesday evening, Oct. 8, in Fordham Manor which resulted in eight people being hospitalized due to smoke inhalation, including one elderly woman reported to be around 80 years of age who is in critical condition.

 

As reported, FDNY officials said they received a call at 5.05 p.m. on Tuesday for a report of smoke/fire at 2552 University Avenue located between West 192nd Street and West 190th Street, north of Unversity Heights. They said the 2-alarm fire was on the third floor and extended to a degree to the fourth floor of the 5-story, multiple dwelling, drawing 25 fire units, comprising 106 fire and EMS personnel.

Fire department officials said three civilians suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and four civilians suffered minor injuries. They said one civilian, the elderly woman estimated to be around 80 who was in critical condition, was transferred to NYU Presbyterian – Allen Pavillion. They said eight other patients were also transferred to area hospitals and one person refused medical attention at the scene. They said all injuries were smoke-related rather than burns.

 

FDNY officials said the fire was brought under control at 6.51 p.m. and the cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by fire marshals.

 

In addition to speaking to resident Natalie Roman [see our earlier story], we also spoke to a young family of five, including three children, who live on the third floor of the affected building about the frightening event.

Speaking in Spanish, the young mom, who declined to be identified, said, “I was at home with the children and suddenly I hear the alarm that went off. I put the TV on pause and one of the children said, ‘Mom, something smells bad.’ When I looked, I saw the smoke rising up to the apartment from underneath. There was so much smoke. When I saw the smoke, I just took the kids and I got out fast, thanks be to God.”

 

Asked what ages her children are, the mom said 8 months old, 3 years old, and 8 years old. Asked if she was holding all three in her arms as she descended, she said she was. Asked if she could see the fire’s flames [or just the smoke], she said, “When I was going down, yes, and as we were going down, I heard a big boom.” Holding a smiling baby, her partner added, “We weren’t as affected as we’re on the third level.” The woman said she descended by the interior stairway. Asked if she knew what had started the fire, she said she didn’t but she believed it started on the floor below her.

The young mom said they had only been home about a half an hour before the fire broke out. Speaking in English, her 8-year-old son said the most important thing was that they were alive. Asked if he had helped his mom exit the building with his other siblings, the little boy nodded.

 

We also spoke to resident Zaida Rivas who lives next door to the affected building and asked if she, too, and her neighbors had evacuated. “We did because we smelled it,” Rivas said. “There was a lot of smoke, and we were in our apartment. As a matter of fact, I closed the windows because the smoke was coming in from the back yard but fortunately, everybody that we know of got out that was home, but it was a really big fire, a lot of fire, a lot of smoke.”

Pointing to the entrance of the building in a video she had taken of the aftermath, she explained, “This is our building. It’s over here. So this is the entrance of the building, and this, here, was all flames when we first came out.”

 

She continued, “We just couldn’t come out because, you know, the hoses and the fire department. But it was really scary. I’ve lived here almost 50 years and never seen this here like this.”

Asked if the alarm in her building went off also, she said, “No, my alarm didn’t go off. My son-in-law was in the kitchen and smelled the smoke. My daughter had just gotten home from work so he asked her, and she said, ‘No, I didn’t smell anything.'”

 

Rivas continued, “He says, ‘I’m gonna find out.’ And he opened the door, and when he opened the door, he saw a lot of the neighbors coming downstairs, yelling, ‘Fire! Fire!’ So, you know, everybody got ready to come out. As it turned out, my grandchildren went back inside because it was so much smoke outside, it was better for them to be inside than outside, and all we did was close the windows.”

Rivas went on to say that because she’s lived in the neighborhood for so long, she wanted to see how her neighbors were doing. Laughing a little, she then said, “So, I came out, but then I’m stuck out here because now they won’t let us back in!”

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson visited the fire scene later on Tuesday night, in addition to District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who had been seen earlier accompanied by a member of her team talking to The Red Cross and to affected residents.

 

Gibson had likely been at a Bronx Democratic Party event which had been taking place earlier the same evening. The borough president said around 55 residential units had been affected by the fire. “We’re getting an update from FDNY, NYPD 52 Precinct, NYSOM, as well as the American Red Cross, DOB [Department of Buildings],” she said. “Everyone has been on scene for the last several hours to really ensure that number one, the fire was contained.”

A VIDEO OF the aftermath of the scene earlier in the evening as shot by one resident. Video courtesy of Zaida Rivas

Gibson reiterated that there had been no fatalities. “We’re sending our thoughts and prayers out to the residents here that were injured in today’s fire,” she said, in part. “A lot of displacement, unfortunately. So, Red Cross is doing registration. The clients here are just going to hotel accommodation because we believe that some apartments may not be able to be occupied through the night. Maybe in the next couple of days as FDNY and fire marshals do their investigation.”

 

In response to a question from a resident about where the affected residents were rehoused after the fire and after fires in general, Desiree Ramos Reiner from the Red Cross of Greater New York said, “After a fire in New York City, the American Red Cross typically provides temporary emergency lodging for displaced residents in area hotels. Depending on the circumstances, we also may work with local government agencies to open a congregate shelter at a nearby community center.”

 

She had earlier confirmed that after the fire on University Avenue, the Red Cross had registered 13 households (34 adults and 22 children) for emergency assistance.

 

Meanwhile, Gibson continued, “No cause as of yet, but we are so thankful for the swift response of all of our emergency personnel, and we will make sure that NYPD stays here on site for the night [inaudible] so we’ll do our very, very best to make sure that everyone will be accommdated but just a reminder of just the dangers… We have had far too many fires in this borough, residential and commercial, serious injuries and fatalities, and this is yet another fire that we are facing.”

She added, “And while the cause is unknown as to why this happened, we will know in the next several days when the investigation is complete. My gratitude to all of our emergency personnel and to all of our City agencies, and I also want to recognize Council Member Pierina Sanchez, the elected officials that really came here to the scene, as well as calling to find out what is happening.”

 

Gibson thanked the FDNY, NYC Department of Buildings, NYC Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, and, for their patience, all the affected residents. She said she would share more updates as she received them. “We’ve been doing our very best to support every resident and every family during this time.”

Later, Desiree Ramos Reiner of the Red Cross said, “After the fire on University Ave in the Bronx, the Red Cross registered 13 households (34 adults and 22 children) for emergency assistance. Any residents displaced by this fire who did not connect with the Red Cross responders on scene should call 877-Red Cross (select option 1) to register for assistance.”

 

Click here to read FDNY’s fire safety tips. “During a fire, always close the door behind you!” fire officials say. “It helps contain smoke and flames, giving you precious time to escape. Your quick action can make the difference.”